IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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11.25 


121    123 


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Hiotogiaphic 
_Sciaices 
Corporation 


33  W«ST  MAIN  STRHT 

WEBSTM.N.Y.  14S80 

(71«)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiquas 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  mey  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  ar(»  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagto 


□   Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  peiliculAe 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reii6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  i'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  iorsque  ceia  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4t6  fiimies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfiimA  le  meilleur  cixemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  d6tails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


□   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  9t/ou  pellicul6es 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


\/^  Pages  ddcolordes,  tachet^ies  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  pr^r 

Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materif 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppi^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  detached/ 

[w1  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  pr^nt  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I     I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
toti 


The 
posi 
of  tl 
filmi 


Orig 
begl 
the  I 
sion 
othfl 
first 
sion 
or  ill 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  fiim6es  A  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
shall 
TINI 
whU 

Map 
diffc 
entii 
begl 
right 
requ 
metl 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  f  limA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

aox 

y 

12X                            16X                            aOX                            24X                            28X                            32X 

ire 

d6tails 
les  du 
modifier 
ler  une 
filmage 


The  copy  filmed  liere  has  been  reproduced  thanice 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacit  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


6es 


L'exemplaire  film*  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  Texempiaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmte  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END' ), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  dee  symboles  suivants  appsiaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


re 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  1'hose  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcesssire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  le  mAthode. 


i  errata 
id  to 

It 

ie  pelure, 

pon  A 


n 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

li. 


Wlui  iJud  m  AprU  hat  t^ftear  hmjitm  lioai  6D  i^sof^  a  aojiuded  €md\ 


t:* 


i^ 


»' 


4^;' 


NARRATIVE 
OF  TBS  £XTaA0ADZNAR7  LZFB  OF 

KNOWN  BY  MANY  BY  THE  NAME  OP  THE 

DUTCH  HERMIT, 

Who  for  tlie  last  50  years  has  lived  a  secluded  and  lonely  life,  in  a  log  hutf 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  village  of  Dundee,  (Lower  Canada,)  where  he 
died  on  the  '24th  of  April  last,  (1840,)  at  the  age  of  between  80  and  00. 

Shafford  early  emigrated  to  Canada,  and  was  induced  first  to  prefer  a 
lonely  life  in  consequence  of  being  deprived  of  an  only  child,  a  beloved 
dauirhter,  who,  when  but  15  years  of  Hgc,  was  taken  prisoner  and  car- 
ried off  a  captive  be  the  Indians  and  who,  although  she  was  three  months 
after  redeemed  by  her  afflicted  father,  yet  m  consequence  of  the  most 
shameful  and  beastly  treatment  she  had  received  from  the  merciless  sava- 
ges, she  expired  a  wretched  victim  of  their  barbarity,  three  weeks  after 
her  hberatioh. 


The  particulars  of  the  Captivity  and  dreadful  sufferings  of  this  unfortunate 
young  female,  may  bo  fiiund  herein  detailed,  and  are  sufficient  to  satisfy 
the  reader,  that  the  North  American  savases  are  not  in  every  instance 
■o  humane  and  forbearing  to  their  white  female  captives  as  they  have 
been  represented  to  be. 


k,/ 


NBW-YORK: 
C.  L.  CARPENTER,  PUBLISHER. 


id  €md 


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iMi^"iilhj..Ti1IWIBB 


^<-      ...  ■>"!'<,. 


JVv"^ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  I&IO,  by  C.  L>  C  Wi 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court,  for  the  Southern  Dinifigl^. 
York,  -•^  * 


ii.;.:J^ 


•^ 


fc^ 


■yl  i'Hitiy 


■^.^raatt-rg 


^R^ 


f  -' 


^. 


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k^' 


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'.V 


LIFE  OF 


t 


JOHN  CONRAD  SHAFFORD, 


>  THB 

,     DUTCH  HERMIT. 

'1  ■'  ■  '',*  . 


^ 


-.    I  -  -i* 


"  Par  in  a  wild,  unknown  to  public  view, 
Prom  youih  to  age,  a  reverend  Heimit  grew ; 
The  moss  hia  bed,  a  hut  his  humble  cell, 
His  food  the  /mi^s,  his  drink  the  cry^^aZ  we^i  ,- 
Remote  from  man,  with  God  he  past  his  days, 
Prayer  nil  his  business,  alt  his  pleasure  praise  f 

iT^S^wntfe-^n  a  hunting  excursion  near  the  village  of  Dundee  * 
(Lower  Canada,)  ifn.  the  month  of  November  last,  (1839,)  that  the 
writer  of  the  Narrativ^vjiere  oresented,  was  attracted  by  the  ap. 
p^rance  of  smoke  proceeding  from  the  chimney  of  a  log  hut  of 
very  humble  construction,  situated  in  a  forest  far  from  any  other 
dwelling,  and  apparently  so  inaccessable,  as  to  be  but  seldom  visit. 
'^  ed  by  any  human  being !  Impelled  by  a  curiosity  to  ascertain 
who  the  inmates  could  be,  and  their  motives  for  selecting  a  spot 
80  secluded  and  dreary  for  their  place  of  abode,  the  writer  ap- 
proached and  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  hut,  (constructed  of  two  or 
three  unwrought  slabs,  which  appeared  intended  as  a  temporary 
barricade  to  the  only  place  of  entrance  that  could  be  discovered,) 
and  at  which  soon  appeared  a  human  being  clad  in  a  garment  of 
fur,  and  whom,  by  his  wrinkled  brow,  and  long  white  beard  flow- 
ing therefrom,  it  was  to  be  presumed  that  in  age,  he  could  tibt  num- 
ber much  less  than  fourscore  and  ten  years ! — on  presenting  him- 
self to  view  (however  ludricous  he  might  have  supposed  his  ap- 
pearance must  have  been  to  a  stranger)  he  appeared  in  no  way 
alarmed  or  disconcerted  ;  and  the  writer  having  first  apologized 
for  the  intrusion,  as  well  as  his  motive  for  thus  unceremoniously 

V,  ■        ■ 


■4 


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■■■*, 


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mmmtmt 


Ki' 


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tr^  > 


Lira  or  JORN  Ot   SHAFFOBDi 


I 


disturbing  the  old  gentleman  in  his  solitary  retreat,  he  appeared 
not  the  least  displeased  witli  the  visit,  but  disposed  to  gratify  the 
curiosity  of  his  new  and  unexpected  visitor,  by  readily  replying  to 
interrogatories,  as  to  his  motive  in  thus  prefering  a  secluded  life, 
(for  he  had  intimated  that  he  there  dwelt  entirely  alone,)  to  that 
of  mingling  with  human  society,  which  he  assured  the  writer,  was 
in  consequence  of  the  heavy  afflictions  that  he  had  been  doomed 
to  experience  in  early  life,  which  alone  first  led  him  to  select  this 
retired  and  then  unfrequented  spot,  as  the  place  of  his  permanent 
residence  ;  and  having  erected  with  his  own  hands,  the  humble  hut 
in  which  he  then  dwelt,  he  had  remained  the  only  living  Occupant 
thereof  for  upwards  of  fifty  years! — And,  on  the  enquiry  how  and 
in  what  manner  he  subsisted,  and  obtained  the  necessaries  of  life, 
at  so  advanced  an  age,  he  replied,  that  **  at  a  short  distance  there* 
from,  he  had  under  cultivation  a  small  patch  of  land,  which  pro- 
duced him  his  vegetables,  and  that  he  too  possessed  a  good  cow, 
with  some  few  other  domestic  animals ;  and  in  addition  to  which* 
the  fruits  of  his  labour  in  his  most  vigorous  days  had  not  yet  l>e*  ; 
come  quite  exhausted,  and  he  could  not  but  flatter  himself^ajj^P'^J^flSp^?? 
prudence,  they  might  prove  even  sufficient  to  senj^'hini  (br  ihe  re- 
roainder  of  his  life,  which,  it  was  but  reaso;n^fe  to  suppo^,  was 
tlien  drawing  to  a  close !" — And  to  he  >vriter*s  Pjrther  inquiry  that 
'<  alone  and  defenceless,  (as  he  appeared  to  be,)  if  he  was  not  un^r 
some  apprehension  that  at  an  unexpected  moment  he  might  be 
visited  by  robbers,  with  the  view  of  dispossessing  him  of  his  little 
wealth  1"  the  old  man  unhesitatingly  replied,  •»  well,  indeed,  I  might» 
was  I  really  as  defenceless  as  you  represent  me,  but  not  so,  I  have 
the  means  oi  defence  at  hand  that  I  was  early  taught  to  believe  was 
sufficient  to  protect  me  against  an  r.ftack  of  a  host  of  the  mtest 
foes !  And  if  you  will  tarry  but  a  moment,  friend,  (continued  he) 
I  will  show  you  what  it  is,  and  then  you  may  judge  for  yourself!" 
— As  he  had  previously  hinted  that  hunting  had  once  been  hi$ 
favourite  amusement,  the  writer  here  supposed  that  his  boasted 
means  of  (fe/*ence,  could  be  no  other  (probably)  than  the  possessioQ 
of  some  ancient,  highly  prized,  and  doubtless  well  charged /ncZu^ 
fiece!  and  great  therefore  was  his  surprise  to  behold  the  Old  pa- 
triarch on  his  return,  presenting  the  Hdy  BU>le,  with  the  remark 
that  •'that  was  hlM9^«guard,by  which  he  bad  been  (aught  th»t 


.  'vt 


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V 


r-ar'^ 


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% 


■v- 


TRK   DUTCH   BVVMIT. 


if  he  lived  faiihfuJy  however  lonely  his  situation,  there  would  be 
•Iways  ti friend  near,  both  willing  and  able  to  protect  him  !'* 

The  writer  having  from  n  motive  of  curiosity  expressed  a  desire 
to  become  better  acquninted  with  tiie  old  gentleman's  history,  as 
well  as  the  privilege  of  being  permitted  to  have  an  internal  view 
of  his  humble  hut,  his  request  was  not  only  granted,  but  was  very 
politely  invited  to  walk  in  for  the  purpose  that  he  had  mentioned, 
and  by  whom,  as  regarded  the  latter,  was  found  much  more  wretch- 
ed than  what  he  had  anticipated.  The  only  furniture  which  it  cor« 
tained,  was  n  block  of  wood,  which  served  the  aged  inmate  for  « 
chair,  and  his  only  bed  a  hollow  log,  filled  with  dry  grass  and 
leaves,  and  ol  a  size  so  small  as  to  be  hardly  sufficient  to  hold  his 
body — and  his  only  cooking  utensils,  dec.  an  iron  pot,  a  small 
broken  spider,  a  pewter  poringer  and  a  wooden  spoon  ! — On  the 
writer's  remarking,  that,  «  in  the  choice  of  his  furniture  he  must 
have  been  governed  more  by  the  principles  of  economy,  than  that 
of  convenience,''  "indeed  I  was,  (was  his  reply,)  and  well  I  might 
*  _r"^**'®°  ^"*  *  ^°y*  '  ^^^  ''l^e  too  many  others  of  my  age, 
bi'oughit'V*^  SM  the  folly  of  prWc  and  cx«rat7<»^ancc  / — When  but 
sixteen  years  of  ag&,.(ny  parents  emigrated  from  Holland  to  the 
United  States,  and  witli  tlie  small  means  that  they  then  possessed, 
they  rente^  a  few  acres  of  liitid  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  my 
uncle  (my  father's  brother)  who  had  emigrated  to  America  eleven 
years  before  -  by  industry  and  frugality,  in  four  years,  the  produce 
of  the  few  acres  of  land  rented  by  niy  father,  was  sullicicnt  to  ena- 
ble him  to  purchase  a  small  farm,  clear  of  incumbsance,  situated 
In  the  neighborhood  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and  about  vJ^ph  time  I 
became  of  age,  and  agreed  to  work  for  my  father  for  the  term  of 
one  year,  for  the  consideration  of  receiving  seven  dollars  per 
month,  the  highest  wages  then  paid — I  fulfilled  my  contract  faith* 
fully,  as  he  did  his,  by  paying  me  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  very 
considerable  sum  (so  then  considered  by  me)  of  81  doiliird  in  silver 
money ;  indeed  scarcely  had  I  seen,  much  less  possessed  so  great  a 
sum  before !  A  sum  which  I  then  foolishly  believed  sufficie^nt  to 
enable  me  to  live  idh  a  few  months  at  least — a  sum  which  if  pru« 
dently  laid  out  would  at  that  period,  (as  the  western  parts  of  the 
State  was  than  rapidly  settling,)  have  been  sufficient  to  have  pur> 


% 


W 


■t^ 


.p. 


-^    >'  - 


mm 


8 


LIFE   or  JOHN   C.   BHAFFOnO, 


* 


vhom 


■•# 


chased  a  very  valuable  lot  of  land,  which  ten  years  after,  would 
no  doubt  have  yielded  me  ten  times  that  num — but,  as  the  snying  is 
'*  the  fnol  and  his  money  is  soon  parted,"  and  so  with  mo,  for  with 
the  pretence  of  travelling  to  find  a  cheaper  and  more  desirable  sit- 
uation, and  at  such  expense  (hut  when  found,  my  monoy  was  mostly 
gone,  and  I  had  become  too  poor  to  purchase,  but  determining  to 
improve  by  past  folly,  and  being  still  in  my  prime,  I  again  returned 
to  my  falher,  and  with  whom  I  once  more  contracted  to  work  ano. 
ther  year  for  the  same  wages  ns  before,  which  I  did,  and  I  believe 
much  to  his  satisfaction,  and  with  rqnal  punctuality  on  his  part  re- 
ceived the  fruits  of  my  labour  at  the  years*  end,  with  which  I  very 
soon  after  made  a  purchase  of  forty  acres  of  good  but  uncleared 
land,  in  that  section  called  Genessee  country,  then  but  very  thinly 
settled  by  white  inliabitants.  The  Brst  year  I  cleared  a  few  acres 
and  erected  me  a  log  house  thereon,  and  the  spring  following  visit- 
ed my  father  to  inform  him  of  my  location  dec,  but  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  as  an  helpmate,  a  smart  and  in- 
dustriou)?  young  woman  of  about  my  own  age,  and  of  Dutch.pa 
rents,  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  my  father,  and  -' 
I  had  previously  become  acquainted,  and  with  ji/fiorii  artd  her  old- 
est brother,  I  two  weeks  after  returned  to  y^Am.  I  was  then  pleased 
4o  consider  my  permanent  home,  anjj/riiy  wife  (as  regarded  her- 
self) was  as  pleased  on  her  arrival  so  to  consider  it. 

In  less  than  one  year,  by  the  persevering  industry  of  my  wife's 
brother,  and  myself,  we  cleared  and  sowed  with  wheat  between 
fifteen  and  sixteen  acres  of  my  small  farm,  and  to  which,  from  rear 
to  year  (as  my  land  proved  productive  and  the  market  good  for 
the  sale  of  the  produce,)  I  was  enabled  to  purchase  and  to  add 
thereto  additional  lots  of  land,  until  i  found  myself  in  the  year 
178i^  in  possession  of  a  faim  sufficiently  large  to  divide  into  two 
and  thus  to  provide  for  my  brother-in-law,  who,  until  that  period 
had  industriously  wrought  for  me,  and  to  whom  I  considered  my- 
self much  indebted  for  the  success  and  good  fortune  that  had  at- 
tended me. — To  the  time  mentioned  1  had  been  blessed  with  but 
one  child,  (a  daughter,)  and  had  it  not  been  but  for  an  unfortu- 
nate circumstance,  we  might,  as  we  then  did  (although  remotely 
situated  from  any  conpideriible  settlement,)  have  long  enjoyed  un- 
molested the  fruits  of  our  honest  industry — but,  unfortunately, 
;--  ■■-.*     .=„,  >   ^' 


■<* 


ifs 


THE    DUTCH   IIEUMIT. 


would 
ying  is 
ir  with 
ble  sit> 
mostly 
ling  to 
turned 
k  ano* 
believe 
art  re- 

1  very 
cleared 

thinly 
w  acres 
ig  visit- 
)articu* 
and  in- 
itchvpa* 


^Ik 


vnom 
her  old- 
pleased 
cd  her- 

y  wife's 
let  ween 
)ni  j'ear 
ood  for 

to  a^d 
le  year 
ito  two^ 

period 
ed  my- 
had  at* 
ith  but 
infortu* 
Binotely 
yed  un. 
inately» 


''*-).. 


although  the  long  protracted  and  expensive  war,  which  had  beep 
"aging  between  America  and  Great  Britain,  had  been  brought  to  9 
close,  yet  the  savages  who  had  been  engaged  to  take  a  part  in  the 
contest  with  the  latter,  appeared  unwilling  to  bury  the   hatchet, 
and  continued  for  some  time  to  molest,  and  either  to  butcher  out- 
right, or  to  make  captives  and  carry  off  such  of  the  defenceless 
white  inhabitants  on  the  frontiers  as  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall 
into  their  hands-<-they  even  became  so  bold  and  blood  thirsty,  and 
so  eager  to  obtain  the  scalps  of  the  unfortunate  whites,  as  to  ex- 
tend their  excursions  in  larger  or  smaller  parties  to  within  a  few 
miles  of  my  neighborhood ;  yet,  from  me  and  my  family,  when 
'     visited  by  them,  they  had  ever  met  with  such  a  kind  and  friendly 
reception,  that  they  had  repeatedly  given  us  to  understand  that  we 
never  need  be  under  any  fear  or  apprehension  of  their  troubling  us, 
that  as  they  had  been  informed  that  I  had  taken  no  part  in  the  late 
war  against  them,  they  would  sooner  afford  me  their  protection 
than  do  me  an  injury  ;  and  in  token  whereof,  they  frequently  prof- 
fered me  the  pipe  of  peace  ! — ^Vith  these  assurances  of  friendship, 
we  were,  like  many  others,  lulled  into  immaginary  security,  until 
the  close  t^C^^e  year  1790,  when  a  party  of  the  Canadian  Indians 
having  crossed  itl^  Lake,  to  invade  a  settlement  of  Indians  with 
whom  they  had  been,  ^nd  were  still  at  war,  the  latter,  through  fear 
of  being  overpowered  by  the  former,  fled  in  much  confusion  to  ob- 
tain the  assistance  of  a  friendly  tribe  further  south,  and  to  within 
a  few  miles  of  which  tribe  they  were  pursued  by  their  invading 
foes  !  but,  not  being  so  successful  in  their  pursuit  as  they  antici- 
pated, they  teturned,  filled  with  rage  and  disappointment,  and  with 
the  avowed  determination  to  revenge  themselves  on  the  whites, 
with  whom  their  Indian  foes  had  been  on  friendly  terms  during 
their  contest  with  Great  Britain  ;  and,  agreeably  to  their  threats 
(as  it  was  afterward  ascertained,)  on  their  return  surprized,  mur- 
dered and  scalped  several  of  the  defenceless  inhabitants,  and  took 
some  prisoners,  previous  to  their  arrival  in  my  neighborhood,  which 
was  a  little  past  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening ;  and  I   had  but  just 
time  hastily  to  secure  the  doors  of  my  house,  without  the  recollec- 
tion at  the  moment  that  my  daughter  (my  only  child)  had  stepped 
out  on  some  necessary  occasion  a  few  minutes  previous,  and  whose 
almost  immediate  cries  for  help,  too  well  assured  me  that  she  had 

2  ■■'       -^      , 

t.-    '    %  ''  . 


0 


% 


5 


r 


I    w 


i 


10 


LIFE    OF  JOUN   C.    CHAFFORP) 


fallen  into  tho  lianda  of  the  merciless  wretches !  who  after  making 
two  or  three  unsuccessful  attempts  to  force  my  doors,  deported, 
having,  as  1  then  supposed,  either  murdered,  or,  what  was  almost 
as  much  to  he  dreaded,  carried ofl' my  poor  child  a  captive! 

Early  tho  morning  ensuing  confirmed  my  fears,  as  to  tho  melan- 
choly tUct  of  her  having  been  carried  otf  by  them,  as  her  lifeless 
body,  or  any  appearance  of  her  having  been  murdered,  could  not 
be  discovered  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  could  convey  information  of  my 
loss  to  my  neighbour,  (who  lived  to  the  distance  of  about  one 
mile,)  he  with  myself,  and  accompanied  by  my  brother-in-law, 
started  on  horseback  in  pursuit,  with  tho  distant  hope  of  being 
able  to  overtake  the  savages  previous  to  their  crossing  the  Lake  ; 
but  in  this  we  were  disappointed,  for  on  reaching  the  Lake  the 
next  day  we  were  informed  by  a  friendly  Indian  that  he  had  noticed 
them  crossing  over  to  tho  Canadt  side  two  or  three  hours  previous 
to  our  arrival ;  and,  in  confirmation  that  they  were  the  same  party 
which  we  were  in  pursuit  of,  he  had  particularly  noticed  that 
among  other  prisoners,  there  was  a  young  female,  answering  the 
desci  iption  given  of  my  daughter  ! — As  we  at  that  time  possesHed 
not  the  means  to  cross  the  Lake  to  pursue  them  furthfis^  on  receivr 
ing  the  information  of  their  having  actually  ^ftisaed,  we  gave  up 
the  pursuit,  and  I  returned  home  to  my  disconsolate  wife,  and  who 
could  not  be  made  to  believe  otherwise  than  that  the  life  of  her 
poor  child  had  not  only  been  spared,  to  experience  the  most  cruel 

tortures  that  savage  barbarity  eould  invent,  or  inflict ! and  who 

could  only  be  consoled  with  tho  promise,  that,  as  soon  as  possible, 
I  would  pursue  the  savage  ruffians  into  Canada,  and -if  so  fortu. 
nate  as  to  find  our  child  alive,  I  would  spare  no  pains  to  effect  her 
redemption  at  any  price ;  and  for  this  purpose,  the  week  follow, 
ing  I  left  home,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  Canada,  to  learn  that 
the  Indians  who  composed  the  expedition  were  chiefly  those  of  the 
St.  Francis  tribe,  as  they  were  then  denominated,  and  who  dwelt 
at  some  distance  from  where  I  then  was,  to  the  north  ;  and  thither 
with  some  difficulty,  I  repaired,  where  although  I  met  with  some 
who  confessed  that  they  were  attached  to  the  expedition,  yet  from 
them  could  obtain  no  other  information  of  the  fate  of  my  daughter, 
than  that  they  had  (by  the  intercession  of  their  chief,)  concluded 
to  spare  her  life,  and  as  he  had  been  instrumental  in  saving  her 


.^p 


^■^  *.  i" 


^ 


•** 


THE    DUTCH    IIERHIT. 


11 


from  the  smlping  knife,  ho  claimed  hor  ns  his  own,  on  thrir  arri. 
val  at  their  Hetllt'tncnt  ;  nml  hh  tinno  appciircd  (hsponed  to  diHpute 
rights  with  hitii,  he  hud  .oiiiprlled  her  to  nccoiiipiiny  hirii  to  hiu 
setthtinont,  (ho  hring  of  iinothcr  tril)o,  Htilt  further  north,)  und 
where,  if  Htill  Uvin^,  they  had  nu  doubt  that  ht)  too  highly  valued 
his  '•  young  squaw"  to  ho  very  willing  to  piirt  with  lier  !         '  >  . 

By  this  information  (the  truth  of  vvliich  I   hnd  no  great  reason 
to  douhl,)  I  began  to  despair  of  being  soon  ablo  to  find  and   to  ef- 
fect the  rehmsc  of  my  poor  child,  as  the  tribo  with  which  she  was 
now  represented  a  prisoner,  hud  ever  been  eonsidered  a  wunrlering 
tribe,  and  without  any  permanent  place  of  residence — as  my  only 
alternative  now,  and  what  appeared  to  mo  to  bo  the  best  and  only 
means  to  recover  her,  I,  previous  to  my  return,  publicly  made 
known  to  every  Indian  th  it  I  met  with,  (particularly  those  of  the    , 
St.  Francis  tribe)  that  to  any  one  of  them  who  would  thereafter 
restore  to  rnc  my  daughter,  alive,  I  would  present  the  sum  of  2U0 
dollars  in  silver  money  ;  and  having  received   the  assurances  of 
many,  that,  for  the  value  of  the  reward,  they  would  do  all  in  their 
)ower  to  find  out  to  what  part  of  the  interior  she  was  conveyed,    ' 
and  if  a  pi)^?^'®  t'''"o»  ^°  assist  her  in  efTecting  her  escape,  if  her 
liberty  could  not  "t'le  otherwise  obtained,  I  once  more  returned  to 
my  afflicted  wife,  aniJ  where  in  a  state  of  melancholy  suspense, 
we  passed  nearly  three  months,   without  receiving  any  tidings 
whatever  respecting  the  fate  of  our  unfortunate  daughter  ;  which, 
from  the  well  known  character  of  the  savages  into  whose  hands 
she  had  fallen,  we  had  no  reason  to   believe  oould  be  the  best,  as 
after  my  return,  I  received  information   from  some  of  my  neigh- 
bours of  many  other  depredations  committed  by  the  same  party  _ 
of  Indians,  on  their  return  from  their  unsuccessful  expedition. — She 
most  melancholy  instance  was  that  of  the  destruction  of  the  lives 
of  almost  every  member  of  the  unfortunate  family  of  a  Mr.  John 
Corbly,  a  preacher  of  the  gospel ;  the  particulars  of  which  I  re- 
ceived  from  his  own  lips,  and  were  these— that  "  having  an  ap- 
pointment to  preach  at  a  short  distance  from  his  dwelling  house, 
he  left  home  for  that  purpose,  with  his  wife  and  five  children,  and 
while  they  proceeded  forward  he  walked  behind  them  leisurely, 
without  apprehending  any  danger ;  and  while  thus  proceeding  he 
'  was  suddenly  alarmed  by  the  screeching  of  his  family,  to  the  relief 


Hi-r 


■■T 


X 


'> 


# 


* 


*..« 


'H.'S, 


■■>•»■  k; 


."■»!»«? 


tk 


.m. id 


0 


*      .^ 


12 


LIFE    OF   JOHN   C.    8HAFF0KD, 


.     * 


^■ 


of  whom  he  immediately  hastened,  vainly  seeking  a  club  or  some 
other  weapon  to  defend  himself  as  he  ran — when  within  a  few 
rods  of  his  family,  his  unfortunate  wife  perceiving  him  approach- 
ing, cried  out  and  begged  him  to  make  his  escape — at  which  in. 
stant,  an  Indian,  (who  it  was  supposed  with  several  others  had  lain 
in  ambush,)  ran  up  and  attempted  to  shoot  him^  but  his  gun  missing 
fire,  Mr.  Corbly  succeeded  in  making  his  escape — the  Indians  im- 
mediately thereupon  commenced  a  murderous  attack  on  his  de. 
fenceless  family  !  His  wife  was  first  shot  and  scalped  by  the  Indian 
who  had  attempted  to  shoot  him  (Mr.  C.)  and  a  small  infant 
which  she  carried  in  her  arms  shared  no  better  fate ! — his  little  son 
six  years  of  age,  they  next  dispatched,  mangling  his  body  in  a 
shocking  manner  with  their  tomahawks,  as  they  did  his  little  daugh- 
ter still  younger. — During  the  dreadful  slaughter  his  oldest  child  (a 
daughter)  attempted  to  escape  by  concealing  herself  in  a  hollow 
tree  a  few  rods  from  the  scene  of  action,  and  observing  the  Indians 
retiring  (as  she  supposed)  she  deliberately  crept  from  the  place  of 
her  concealment,  when  one  of  the  Indians  who  still  remained  on 
the  ground  espying  her,  knocked  her  down  with  his  tomahawk  an^^r 
scalped  her  !"  This  was  but  one  of  the  many  instajpiCKty  of  savace 
barbarity  exercised  toward  the  defenceless  whiitg  inhabitants  and 
it  was  supposed,  by  one  and  the  same  part^  of  Indians  on  their 
return  to  Canada.  '~"  f^"' 

As  we  coufd  obtain  no  tidings  of  our  daughter  (as  I  observer^) 
and  three  months  had  passed  since  the  fatal  night  iliat  the  cruel 
savages  conveyed  her  away,  we  began  almost  to  despair  of  being 
ever  again  permitted  to  meet  her  on  earth — but,  while  our  appre- 
hensions were  at  the  greatest  height,  that  such  would  be  our  mis. 
fortune,  we  were,  in  the  dead  of  night,, suddenly  awakened  by  the 
well  known  yell  of  savages,  who  immediately  thereupon  com- 
menced knocking  at  my  door  with  their  clubs  and  tomahawks,  and 
in  broken  English  requesting  admittance,  as  they  '<  had  brought 
home  my  captive  child  !"— but  believing  this  to  be  too  good  news 
to  be  true,  and  that  it  was  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  stratagem 
of  the  treacherous  savages  to  gain  admittance,  and  perhaps  for  no 
other  purpose  than  to  take  our  scalps,  I  at  first  paid  no  other  at- 
tention thereto  than  to  put  myself  in  the  best  possible  state  of  de. 
fence,  and  to  call  out  to  them,  and  assure  them  that  « I  would 


•? 


\% 


.« 


■u    .V 


Ki. 


■  ^^f^ 


THE    DUTCH   HKRMIT. 


13 


i4 


shoot  the  first  Indian  that  should  enter  my  house  against  my  will  !'^ 
this,  however,  so  far  from  intimidating  (hem  in  the  least,  seemed 
to  have  a  contrary  effect,  inasmuch  us  that  they  continued  to 
knock  at  my  door  with  increased  violence,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  repeat  their  assurances  that  they  meant  me  no  harm,  and  had 
come  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  restore  to  me  my  child,  who&e 
liberation  they  had,  agreeable  to  my  views,  providentially  effected  ! 
— as  this  was  spoken  in  a  tone  peculiar  only  to  those  of  the  savage 
tribe  who  are  ■pacijieally  disposed,  I  began  to  think  more  fhvoura. 
bly  of  them,  and  that  what  they  had  represented  to  me  to  be  the 
fact,  might  even  so  prove — and,  to  guard  myself  well  against  the 
possibility  of  deception,  I  told  them  that  nothing  but  hearing  the 
voice  of  my  ■  daughter  would  satisfy  me  that  they  were  friends, 
and  my  daughter  was  once  more  at  liberty,  and  then,  one  of  their 
number. — Immediately  upon  which  my  poor  child,  (with  a  voice  as 
loud  as  her  enfeebled  health  would  admit  of)  declared  to  me  that 
"  it  was  all  positively  true,  and  begged  that  I  would  open  the  door 
as  soon  as  possible,  that  she  might  enjoy  the  privilege  of  behold, 
ing  the  faces  of  her  dear  parents  once  more!" — it  was  my  daugh- 
voice'f-jiss,  I  could  not  be  deceived  ! — it  was  enough  !  and 
required  no  savage^ssistance  now  to  force  back  the  bolts,  or  to 
remove  the  bars  of  my  tiqors,  with  which  I  had  taken  the  precau- 
tion to  secure  them — no,  it^  was  done  by  myself  alone,  and  in  an 
instant,  as  if  by  magic — and  at  the  next,  my  long  lost  child  was 
in  my  arms,  -.vhen  the  mingled  emotions  of  joy  and  grief  produced 
thereby,  prevented  any  other  utterance,  on  the  part  of  either,  than 
the  exclamation  « my  father!"  "my  child !"— while  the  savages 
who  accompanied  her,  stood  during  the  affecting  moment,  appa- 
rently  motionless,  and  grinning,  as  it  were,  a  ghastly  smile ! — I 
had  indeed,  to  my  inexpressible  joy,  recovered  my  beloved  daugh- 
ter, but,  alas,  she  appeared  but  the  shadow  of  what  she  once  was  ; 
and   too  evident  was  it  by  her  weak  and  emaciated  appearance, 
that  th«  three  months  that  she  had  been  in  the  power  of  the  merci- 
less  savages,  that  she  had  suffered  eve^y  thing  but  death  itself  as 
her  tale  of  woe  afterward  confirmed  !     Early  the  morning  ensuing 
the  savages  (through  whose  instrumentality  I  had  been  enabled  to 
recover  my  child,)  becoming  impatient  to  return,  I  paid  them  their 
promised  reward,  in  hard  money,  and  they  departed,  apparently 


fi 


■i>^ 


'fr. 


m 


m 


-.a 


■'„"*' 


1 


' 


u 


'\ 


LIFE    OF   JOHN    C.    8HAFFORD, 


highly  pleased  with  their  good  fortune  in  receiving  so  considerable 
a  sum,  for  services  so  easily  performed  ;  they  having  engaged  to 
pay  the  young  chief  but  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars  on  their  return 
in  exchange  for  the  fair  captive,  who  he  represented  to  them  had 
become  his  wife  by  adoption  !  As  soon  as  my  poor  ill-fated  child 
had  become  in  some  degree  composed,  and  had  gained  suSicient 
strength  so  to  do,  she  narrated  to  me  and  her  afflicted  mother, 
the  heart  rending  trials  and  afflictions  that  she  had  been  made  the 
subject  of,  from  the  time  that  misfortune  placed  her  in  the  power 
of  the  savages  'mtil  the  moment  that  she  was  providentially  re- 
stored to  liberty,  which  as  far  as  my  recollection  serves  me,  was 
in  substance  as  follows  : — 

"  That  on  the  fatal  evening  that  she  was  made  a  prisoner  of,  the 
savages  seized  her  at  the  moment  that  she  was  about  to  enter  the 
back  door  of  the  house,  dragged  her  a  few  rods  therefrom,  and 
bound  her  with  a  cord  to  a  tree,  when  were  ihree  other  white 
captives  (males)  in  a  similar  condition  ;  which,  when  done,  they 
returned  to  commence  an  attack  on  the  house,  and  in  which  they 
were  but  a  short  time  employed,  for  they  not  only  found  thg^-jj 
well  secured,  but  at  the  very  moment  hearing  the-%atffi^  of  a  horn 
and  the  report  of  a  musket,  they  became  rpjfKarently  much  fright- 
ened, (probably  svipposing  themselves  pureed)  unbound  her  and  the 
other  captives,  in  great  haste,  and  s«i'tting  out  upon  a  trot,  drove 
her  and  the  other  prisoners  before  them,  whom,  if  they  attempted 
to  slacken  their  pace  in  any  degree,  were  unmercifully  beat  and 
scourged  with  rods  which  the  savages  had  each  prepared  himself 
for  that  purpose — their  bitter  lamentations  and  entreaties  for 
mercy  had  no  other  effect  than  to  induce  them  to  attempt  to  in- 
crease  their  pace  by  a  still  more  severe  application  of  their  rods  ! 
— it  was  in  this  way  that  my  daughter  was  compelled  to  travel 
through  an  almost  impenetrable  forest,  until  the  break  of  day,  when 
her  strength  began  to  fail  her,  and  she  to  manifest  an  inability  to 
travel,  in  the  manner  mentioned,  any  further — the  savages  perceiv- 
ing this,  they  came  to  a  halt,  when  a  warm  dispute  arose  among 
them,  some  (as  she  was  afterward  informed)  being  in  favour  of 
dispatching  her  on  the  spot,  and  to  be  no  longer  troubled  with  her, 
while  others  (among  whom  was  their  young  chief)  were  in  favour 
of  sparing  her  life,  which  opinion  appeared  at  length  to  prevail, 


i 


'# 


4 


•4     ^■■■f' 


iMiyi     .        - 


THE    DUTCH   HEBHIT. 


16 


"$ 


through  the  influence  of  their  leader,  who  at  this  moment  dis- 
mounting from  the  horse  on  which  he  rode,  and  having  with  the 
assistance  of  another  Indian  placed  my  daughter  on  the  back 
thereof,  she  was  thereto  secured  ;  when  a  part  of  the  savages  who 
appeared  to  have  disagreed  in  opinion  with  their  chief,  and  were 
probably  in  favour  of  her  being  otherwise  disposed  of,  (which  in- 
deed would  have  proved  a  great  mercy  to  her,  if  permitted  to  judge 
by  the  dreadful  treatment  that  she  afterward  experienced)  now 
separated  from  those  by  whom  she  was  still  held  a  prisoner,  and 
accompanied  by  the  three  other  captives,  took  their  departure  in 
another  direction.  * 

She  thought  she  probably  would  have  been  treated  with  less  in- 
humanity by  the  savages,  had  they  not  by  some  means  or  other 
been  plentifully  supplied  with  spirituous  liquor,  with  which  they 
became  more  or  less  intoxicated,  and  frequently  beat  her  for  no 
other  reason,  as  she  could  conjecture,  than  that  their  natural  bar- 
barous dispositions  lead  them  so  to  do ! — as  they  compelled  the 
beast  on  which  she  rode  to  travel  mostly  on  a  trot,  and  nothing 
beingjillowed  her  but  a  tattered  blanket  to  ride  upon,  she  would 
not  have  been  <iije  fo  have  kept  her  position  had  she  not  been 
supported  by  two  of  ling  savages,  who  walked  one  on  her  right  and 
the  other  on  her  left  for  ttiut  purpose — and  to  keep  her  erect  and  to 
prevent  her  from  pitching  forward,  another  who  walked  in  the 
rear,  ^nd  as  occasion  required  held  her  tightly  by  the  hair  of  her 
head,  and  who  appeared  quite  indifferent  as  to  the  pain  that  it 
caused  her  ;  while  the  horse  was  led  by  the  young  chief  who  walk- 
ed forward  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  in  this  way  that  they 
travelled  until  they  reached  tUe  Ldke,  where  having  found  a  boat 
at  hand  suitable  for  their  purpose,  they  all  crossed  therein,  but 
which  being  of  only  suil^cient  size  to  hold  themselves,  the  chief 
was  obliged  to  abandon  his  horse,  but  in  some  way  or  other  sup- 
plied his  place  with  another  as  soon  as  tney  reached  the  opposite 
shore,  and  in  the  same  manner  as  before  crossing  the  Lake,  con- 
tinued to  travel  the  two  proceeding  days,  without  making  any  lon- 
ger stop  than  time  sufficient  to  partake  sparingly  of  their  provis- 
ion, which  consisted  mostly  of  smoked  venison,  which  each  car- 
ried in  his  pack  for  that  purpose.  At  the  close  of  the  fifth  day 
from  that  on  which   my  daughter   became   theip  prisoner,  they 


vV^ 


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.,^;^ 


Ll# 


18 


lilFf:   OF  JOHN   C.    SHAFFORD, 


^ 


% 


#■ 


reached  an  Indian  settlement,  which  proved  to  be  the  abiding 
place  of  two  or  three  of  the  savages  in  whose  power  she  had  last 
been — here  another  warm  dispute  arose  respecting  (as  she  con- 
jectured) whose  captive  she  should  be ;  many  angry  words  were 
exchanged,  accompanied  with  frightful  grimaces,  and  a  display  of 
their  long  knives  and  tomahawks,  when  at  length,  in  the  greatest 
heat  of  the  contest,  (and  probably  with  ^he  intention  of  putting  an 
end  thereto)  a  lusty  and  most  powerful  looking  savage  rushed  upon 
her,  with  an  uplifted  tomahawk,  and  when  to  appearance,  on  the  eve 
of  dashing  out  her  brains,  received  a  severe  blow  from  the  toma- 
hawk of  the  young  chief,  which  laid  him  prostrate  and  senseless 
on  the  ground,  and  which  appeared  to  have  the  desired  effect  to 
decide  the  dispute,  as  she  was  immediately  thereupon  dismounted 
and  led  off  in  triumph  by  one  whom  she  then  vainly  believed  would 
prove  the  protector  of  her  person,  as  well  as  her  life,  but  in  this 
she  found  herself  too  soon  unhappily  deceived ! 

The  chief  (as  he  was  denominated)  was  accompanied  but  by 
one  other  Indian,  and- who  through  fear  of  being  pursued  by  some 
of  those  who  were  left  behind,  or  for  some  other  reasoo«.th9^;^|> 
savages  travelled  with  much  greater  speed 'tha*!  on  the  day  pre. 
ceding,  and  greatly  to  her  suffering  composed  her  to  keep  paco 
with  them  until  sunset,  when  having  sought  ah  encampment  Sot 
the  night,  in  the  midst  of  a  thicket,  where  the  young  chief  having 
signified  to  her  by  signs  and  in  very  broken  £nglish  that  he  had 
preserved  her  life  that  she  might  become  his  adopted  "  squaw !" 
attempted  to  take  liberties  with  her,  which  was  the  first  insult  of 
the  kind  that  she  had  received  from  either  him  or  any  one  of  his 
party,  since  the  evening  of  heir  unfortunate  capture,  and  who  on 
that  occasion  met  with  such  a  repulse  as  to  deter  him  from  a  re- 
petition, at  that  time,  of  his  wicked  and  beastly  design — in  every 
other  respect  she  was  treated  with  more  humanity  than  by  some 
of  those  who  last  left  them  ;  but  the  treatment  that  she  then  re- 
ceived was  of  a  nature  to  satisfy  h'^r  what  she  might  expect  from 
this  savage  ruffian,  if  it  should  be  her  misfortune  to  remnin  long  in 
his  power  !  nor  in  these  awful  apprehensions  was  she  disappoint- 
ed, for  on  their  arrival  two  days  after  at  his  settlement  (situated 
near  the  boarder  of  the  Lake)  she  was  proclaimed  by  himself  and 
others  his  '<  young  captive  squato !"  in  great  triumph,  and  by  a 


« 


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■m 


.^^1^0 


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.■#• 


4^ 


THE   DUTCH   UEIMIT. 


17 


■■^' 


\ 


iding 
last 


but  by 
►y  BO""^  «1 

lay  pre. 
>p  paco 
ient  fos 
having 
he  had 
iquaw !" 
insult  of 
\e  of  his 
who  on 
a  re- 
in every 
by  some 
then  re- 
set  from 
long  in 
lappoint- 
situated 
iself  and 
td  by  a 


general  pow-wow,  and  after  being  fancifully  painted,  and  decorated 
after  their  Indian  manner  she  was  forcibly  conveyed  to  his  wig. 
warn,  where  she  was  given  in  charge  of  two  or  three  squaws  (one 
of  whom  was  very  aged)  by  whom  she  was  given  to  understand 
that  that  was  to  be  the  place  of  her  future  abode ! 

It  was  at  that  moment  (my  poor  child  observed)  she  would  have 
given  worlds,  had  she  possessed  them,  to  have  been  once  more  at 
liberty,  and  under  the  protection  of  her  dear  parents,  from  the  out- 
rages of  a  sava^^e  monster,  who  appeared  not  in  the  least  afiected 
with  a  view  of  the  state  of  wretcliedncss  in  wiilch  ho  hod  placed 
her,  but  to  the  contrary,  with  miicii  seeming  unconcern  left  her 
the  morning  ensuing  (in  a  state  of  mental  distraction)  to  reengage 
in  his  usu.il  hunting  excursions,  and  with  her  most  earnest  prayer 
that  ho  migiit  never  be  permitted  to  return  again  ! — she  was  left 
in  ch:U'ge  of  his  jnolher  and  sister,  by  whom  during  his  absence 
she'  was  most  cruelly  treated  ;  they  kept  her  almost  constantly  em- 
ployed in  pounding  parched  or  baked  corn, in  a  large  wooden 
mortar,  which  when  sufficiently  refined,  they  manufactured  into 

|dj^,l^llinh  with  a  few  slices  of  half  putrid  venspn,  served  them 
for  their  daily  lo9^anu  of  wliich  they  allowed  hoi"  barely  sufiicient 
to  sustain  natur«i|-*—in1cur  days  from  tiio  time  of  his  departure  the 
youno-  chief  returned,  at  whp-e  appearance  she  could  not  but  shud- 
der  at  the  recollection  of  the  treatment  that  she  had  and  might 
again  expect  to  receive  from  him! — on  learning  from  her  (by 
sio^ns)  the  cruel  treatment  tiiat  eho  harl  received  in  hi?  absence, 
the  unfeelii)''-  brute  seemed  more  gratified  than  displeased  there- 
with,  and  in  no  way  disposed  (as  it  proved)  to  spare  the  poor 
child  from  stiil  greater  torments,  and  that  too,  apparently  to  the 
great  satisfacitoa  ami  amuso-icnl  of  both  his  mother  nvd  sifter  ! 

The  morning  following,  sho  tbund  that  although  her  time  was  to 
be  devoted  io  some  other  cmpioyment  than  that  in  which  she  had 
been  engaged,  yet,  to  such  as  proved  still  more  unpleasant  and 
equally  laborious,  and  which  was  no  other  than  tliat  of  dissecting 
and  preparing  the  carcases,  (by  salting  and  smoking)  such  ani- 
mals as  the  young  chief  had  returned  with  from  his  hunting  ex- 
cursion  ;  and  in  the  performance  of  which,  being  not  much  ac- 
quainted, she  made  but  very  slow  progress,  and  for  which  she  was 
80  severely  chastised  by  both  the  old  squaw  and  her  sop  as  to  bring 


3 


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1^ 


'<»,- 


I 


♦ 


18 


IIPB   OF  JOHM   0.    BHAPFOK0I 


upon  her  a  eeltled  fever,  with  which  she  was  twelve  days  confined 
to  her  bed  (if  a  few  dry  corn  husks  could  be  so  called)  without 
being  able  but  with  great  difficulty  to  help  herself;  and  shonld 
(she  thought)  certainly  have  died,  had  she  not  during  her  illness 
been  treated  with  a  little  more  lenity,  which  was  probably  from 
motives  of  gain,  more  than  that  of  pity !  but,  no  sooner  was  it 
perceived  that  she  had  in  a  small  degree  recovered  her  health  and 
strength,  than  she  was  again  compelled  to  become  the  victim  of 
shameful  insult,  and  to  the  performance  of  the  daily  labour  allot- 
ted her,  and  which  in  some  way  or  other  she  was  compelled  to 
perform  with  little  intermission  until  the  happy  day  of  her  deliver- 
ance arrived,  and  until  which  time  the  young  chief  was  more  than 
half  his  time  absent  on  a  hunting,  fishing,  or  some  other  excur- 
sion, when  she  was  always  left,  as  in  the  first  instance,  in  charge 
of  the  old  squaw  and  her  daughter,  and  whose  greatest  desire  it 
seemed  to  be  to  see  who  should  outrival  each  other  in  acts  of  cruel- 
ty  towards  her !  *   '  *  .* 

The  fortunate  day  (which  was  to  prove  the  last  of  her  captivi- 
ty)  the  hut,  or  wigwam,  to  which  she  had  been  almost^iffWstar'^iY 
confined,  the  three  months  that  she  had  been  h^  In  tiittcr  captivi. 
ty,  was  unexpectedly  visited  by  four  straffge  iii^ages,  bearing  a 
white  flag,  which  with  them,  as  well  qs  with  those  morfj.civilizedr 
is  ever  viewed  as  an  emblem  of  peace — their  first  inqimry  was  for 
i»  the  young  chief,  with  whom  they  represented  to  his  mother  (the 
old  squaw)  that  their  business  was  not  only  of  a  pacific  nature, 
but  of  very  great  importance — the  chief  soon  after  entered,  be- 
tween whom  and  the  four  visiting  savages  a  conversation  ensued, 
and  although  my  child  too  imperfectly  understood  their  language 
to  be  able  to  determine  the  tenor  thereof,  yet  as  the  four  Indians 
in  the  course  of  the  conversation  frequently  pointed  to  her,  she 
vas  not  without  her  suspicions  that  it  was  something  relating  to 
herself,  and  which  was  afterward  confirmed,  (as  three  of  said  sav- 
ages were  about  retiring)  by  the  chief's  directing  her  by  signs  to 
follow  them,  in  the  mean  time  repeating  the  words  "  go  away !" 
« go  away  !"  **  white  face !"  and  one  of  the  three  at  the  same 
moment  taking  her  by  the  arm  led  her  from  the  hut,  while  two  of 
the  others  (the  fourth  remaining)  closely  followed  behind — to  what 
pAace  they  weita  about  to  conduct  her*  or  for  what  purpoge,  she 


4 


V 


THE    DUTCH    HEXailT. 


10 


knew  not,  nor  did  she  much  care,  for  if  to  dispatch  her  at  once, 
with  their  clubs  or  tomahawks  for  the  sake  of  her  scalp,  it  was 
her  opinion  that  such  a  death  would  in  all  probability  be  instanta* 
neous,  which  would  be  far  more  desireable  than  the  cruel  linger- 
ing death  which  she  must  have  experieuced  had  it  been  her  lot  to 
have  remained  longer  in  captivity,  subject  to  the  savage  will  and 
brutal  treatment  of  one  in  whose  power  she  had  been  the  three 
last  preceding  months.  But,  as  it  proved,  it  was  the  will  of  pro. 
vidence  that  a  better  fate  should  attend  her — that  the  savages  in 
whose  power  she  was  now  placed  intended  her  no  serious  injury, 
she  was  perfectly  satisfied  when  they  appeared  in  no  way  disposed 
to  treat  her  but  with  the  greatest  degree  of  humanity — while  with 
thetlNhe  suflfered  nothing  for  the  want  of  food,  and  that  of  a  good 
and  wholesome  kind,  and  as  her  deprivations  and  sufferings  had 
rendered  her  too  feeble  to  walk  but  with  a  very  slow  pace,  they, 
without  her  desiring  it,  constructed  with  poles  a  litter,  by  the  aid 
of  which  they  took  turns  to  carry  her,  and  she  was  thus  convey* 
ed  nearly  the  whole  distance  on  her  return,  which  was  performed 


-!f 


in  SIX 


I" 


As  the  poor  oi{^i*tn  concluded  the  melancholy  tale  of  the  cruel 
and  unprecedei||<!d  surfferings  of  his  unfortunate  child,  the  tears 
streamed  profusedly  dowiv4jis  furrowed  cheeks,  and  his  grief  ap< 
parently  at  that  moment  so  great  as  almost  to  forbid  him  utterance! 
it  was  some  time  before  he  became  sufficiently  composed  to  con^np'^ 
tinue  his  narration,  and  to  the  inquiry  "  if  his  unfortunate  daugh- 
ter  long  survived  the  brutal  treatment  she  received  from  the  sava. 
ges  while  in  their  power?"  his  reply  was  (still  sobing)  "  no  !  no  • 
my  dear  friend,  she  did  not — the  poor  child  lived  but  just  three 
weeks  after  her  return  ! — her  constitution  was  too  much  impaired 
by  what  she  had  endured  from  the  hands  of  a  savage  monster,  to 
admit  of  her  recovery  !  in  three  weeks  from  the  time  of  her  de- 
liverance from  savage  outrage,  she  bid  an  eternal  adieu  to  this 
troublesome  world,  and  left  me  childless  at  the  age  of  37  ! — and  as 
if  my  cup  of  woe  was  not  yet  full,  but  three  months  after  the 
death  of  my  daughter,  I  was  bereaved  of  my   wife!  whose  sick- 
ness  I  had  no  doubt  was  produced,  and  her  death  hastened,  by  the 
melancholy    and   untimely   death  of  her  unfortunate  daughter! 
Thus,  friend,  waa  it  the  will  of  providence  to  deprive  me  of  both 


„.  .,W     V'i 


m^ 


i^p' 


■t-  ' 


.-& 


niW'fcit—iiinJ  ii** 


♦• 


20 


LIFB   OF  JOHIf   C.    SHAFFOBD, 


r 


wife  and  child,  and  I  being  left  the  only  remaining  member  of  my 
once  happy  family,  I  thus  early  felt  a  disposition  and  perfect 
willingness  to  retire  from  the  world,  and  the  society  of  my  fellow- 
creatures,  sure  as  I  was,  that  from  that  moment  I  should  find 
little  or  no  comfort  in  either — I  sought  a  purchaser  for  my  farm 
then  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  disposed  of  it  for  the 
considerable  sum  of  $1200,  paid  me  in  silver  and  gold,  which  not 
then  having  an  immediate  use  for,  I  deposited  it  for  safe  keeping 
with  a  friend — and  then  shouldering  my  gun  and  knapsack  (the 
latter  well  filled  with  ammunition)  and  with  no  other  living  com' 
panion  than  my  faithful  dog,  I  bent  my  course  to  this  part  of  the 
country,  then  but  very  thii.ly  settled,  but  the  woods  I  found 
abounding  with  wild  game  of  almost  every  kind — and  'Iffere 
(thought  I)  is  the  place  to  which  providence  has  directed  and 
marked  out  for  me,  as  I  can  here,  in  the  rnidst  of  this  lonely  forest, 
dwell  in  peace  and  quietness,  undisturbed  by  the*  society  of  my 
follow  beings  ;  yes,  here  in  solitude  I  could  indulge  in  melancholy, 
and  opjoy  too  that  quiet  repose  which  the  busy  world  are  so  much 
strniirreis  to — .ind  on  t'.ua  spot  ]  nearly  fifty  years  ago^)g^^^B^^ 
four.Jatica  cf  thu  lo;;  cabin  v/liich  has  ever  sincji-ijijeii  my  abidioir 
place.  x*^    '*^, 

At  the  time  of  my  first  sf.Ulemo.menj^rr,  the  land  was  as  you 

may  €upposo  in  quite  r;  wild  and   i-,4«^arcd  state,  there   not  being 

•^^it  that  period  another  white  inhahitnnt  settled  noaror  to  me  (as  I 

couUl  leu-n)  tlian  at  the  dislanco  of  tworty  or   thirty  miles and 

it  is  iiviprobalde  that  at  tliat  time  tli'j  land  hrT";i!)on':5  'vas  claimed 
as  tlie  rightful  prnporty  of  any  one  individiin!  ;  and  I  have  tiiou"ht 
as  '  have  frequently  been  told  by  my  nearest  neighbuiirs,  that  it 
ju'-iiy  bclonjjfs  to  me  by  possession — but  in  a  fow  jears  the  wliites 
began  to  make  encroachments,  and  have  so  continued  to  do  ever 
since,  so  that  at  this  time  I  havo  neighbours  in  almost  every  direc- 
tion within  iialf  a  mile  of  nie,  and  tliis  I  find  quite  too  near  for 
my  comfort,  for  I  can  truly  say  that  since  the  rnelanclioly  moment 
in  which  I  was  hernaved  of  my  family,  I  have  never  so  well  enjoy-  , 
ed  lilc  as  nh^n  I  lived  at  so  great  a  distance  from  them  that  it  was 
rare  that  I  beheld  the  face  of  a  white  man  oftener  tlian  once  in 
three  or  four  months — there  were  at  one  time  about  fifty  Indians 
situated  within  a  few  miles  of  me,  who  as  they  informed  me  were 


m 


i- 


"W. 


THB   DVTra   HERMIT. 


21 


the  descendants  of  the  once  numerous  and  powerful  tribe  of  the 
Cohnawfthgans— I  always  found  them  peaceable  pnd  well  disposed 
to-sixty  years  ago  they  represented  their  tribe  as  very  numerous, 
and  could  then  number  seven  or  eight  hundred  warriors,  but  since 
then  have  suffered  greatly  from  the  attacks  of  other  tribes  at  war 
with  them — that  in  the  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  Ameri. 
ca,  they  were  with  some  few  other  tribes  employed  by  and  took 
part  with  the  former,  while  they  were  opposed  by  the  Onondagoes, 
Onidas,  Senecas,  and  other  tribes,  who  took  part  with  the  Ameri. 
cans  ;  that  in  several  expeditions  against  these  tribes  they  were 
unsuccessful,  and  lost  a  great  number  of  their  best  warriors,  but 
whenever  successful  they  never  failed  to  retaliate  and  to  put  their 
prisoners  to  death  in  a  manner  that  was  attended  with  the  greatest 
degree  of  'cruelty ! 

As  the  iorest  abounded  with  a  variety  of  game,  and  furnished 
me  plentifully  with  food  while  my  ammunition  lasted,  I  had  no 
occasion  to  cultivate  the  land  until  some  time  after  I  had  comple- 
ted my  habitation,  when  I  cleared  up  and  planted  with  vegetables 
thefewjjods  which  I  at  present  improve  for  that  purpose ;  and 
"wilR'this  Fanfr-perftctly  satisfied,  and  crave  no  larger  inheritance 
that  this  world  can  i^Sqrd — for  ten  years  I  depended  altogether 
on  the  game  with  which  *;yiy  neighboring,  woods  abounded,  and 
the  vegetables  which  my  garden  produced  me,  for  food,  when  tiav. 
ing  made  a  journey  to  the  States  to  obtain  the  proceed  of  my  farm 
on  my  return  I  purchased  me  a  cow,  which  I  drove  home  from  the 
distance  of  fifty  miles,  and  when  she  became  too  aged  to  afford 
n.o  iiiucli  inilk,  I  butchered  her,  and  supplied  her  place  with  ano. 
tiler,  and  at  the  present  time  possess  the  third,  which  still  yields 
mo  a  pluntiful  supply  of  good  milk,  and  probably  will  continue  so 
to  do  as  long  as  I  am  permitted  to  live !" 

"  It  is  HOW,  as  I  observed,  near  fifty  years  since  I  first  selected 
this  spot  as  the  place  of  my  fLituro  abode,  and  have  here  dwealt 
alone  and  at  peace  with  the  world,  for  I  do  not  know  that  1  have 
an  enemy  on  cartli,  and  in  all  this  time  my  health  has  bv.o..  re 
marUably  good,  having  never,  as  I  recollect,  experienced  a  day's 
sickness,  which,  perhaps,  may  be  imputed  to  the  temperate  manner 
in  vvliich  I  have  lived,  having  never  tasted  or  craved  in  the  time 
any  other  drink  than  the  milk  of  my  cow,  or  the  pure  water  that 


/ 


Mu^ 


ts 


LIFfi   OF   JOII^   O.   IHAPFORD, 


U. 


a  neighboring  spring  affords  me— nor  since  my  residence  here  has 
my  life  been  but  onco  in  jeopardy,  which  was  in  the  instance  of  a 
sudden  attack  frem  a  bear,  which  was  occasioned  by  my  having 
unwisely  robbed  her  of  one  of  her  young  cubs,  that  1  was  at. 
tempting  to  convey  Iwmo  alive,  and  to  recover  which  I  was  pur. 
sued  and  overtaken   by  the  dam,  and   after   being  most   severely 
handled,  to  save  my  life,  I  was  obliged  at  length  to  yield  to  her 
what  she  indeed  had  the  best  claim  to.     Among  my  other  proper- 
ties,  I  possess  that  which  1  esteem  the  njost  valuable,  and  which  is 
no  other  than  that  which  I  exhibited  to  you  a  few  moments  ago, 
as  my  best  defence  nguinst  man's  greatest  enemy,  the  creature  man 
as  well  as  the  evil  devices  of  one  who  is  very  justly  considered  the 
chief  in»«/^ator  of  the  wickedness  of  man/— it  is  this  precious  vol- 
ume, my  friend,  that  has  afforded  me  unspeakable  comfort  and 
conHolation  in  my  most  solitary  and  gloomy  moments— it  teaches 
me  that  this  world  of  trouble  and  affliction  is  not  always  to  be  my 
home  or  abiding  place,  but  that  there  is  another  and  far  better 
state  of  existence,  for  those  who  accept  of  the  terms   of  offered 
mercy— it  teaches  me  to  contemplate  and  admire  the  ?,'/sj%PNR^  r^sv^s^I 
the  Almghty,  and  that  Christianity  supplies^  tfery  deficiency  of 
human  nature  ;  satisfies  every  real  want,  and  gratifies  every  rea. 
sonable  desire — by  sad  experience  I  k,  ow  that  we  live  in  a  world 
of  sorrow,  subjected  to  many  afflictions,  and  have  need  of  conso* 
lation  under  them,  and  it  is  the  precious  contents  of  this  holy  book 
that  can  alone  afford  it — and  I  believe  that  I  can  say  in  truth,  that 
it  is  the  first  book,  the  best  book,  and  the  oldest  book  in  the  world 
— it  brings  the  best  tidings,  and  affords  the  best  comfort,  to  the  in- 
quiring and  disconsolate  1" 

The  good,  and  apparently,  happy  old  man  here  concluded  his 
narrative,  which  had  closely  engaged  the  attention  of  the  writer 
for  nearly  an  hour,  and  which  he  viewed  of  so  much  interest,  as 
to  induce  him  to  beg  of  the  old  gentleman  to  repeat,  in  such  man* 
ner  as  would  enable  him  to  take  noteiif  thereof,  which  he  was  ena. 
bled  to  do,  being  fottunately  provided  with  pen,  ink  and  paper — 
and  the  interesting  narrative  as  then  twice  related  to  him,  is,  he 
can  assure  the  public,  the  same  in  substance,  as  is  here  presented 
to  them — and  for  the  information  of  his  readers,  the  writer  would 
here  add,  that  the  aged  father  who  is  the  principal  subject  of  it' 


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I'm,  5BiS5 


TBI  DUTCn   HKBMIT. 


has  (since  the  visit  of  the  writer)  been  called  to  his  heavenly  home, 
to  receive  that  rich  reward  to  which  we  think  that  most  of  his 
readero  will  believe  that  his  pious  and  exemplary  liPe  very  justly 
entitles  him — the  following  obituary  notice  of  his  death  is  copied 
from  a  late  New  York  paper : — 

'*  Died  in  the  township  of  Dundee,  (L.  C.)  on  the  24th  March 
last  (1840)  John  C.  Smafford,  aged  84.  He  was  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  was  best  known  by  the  neme  of  the  Dutch  HermU 
— when  he  first  took  up  his  abode  where  he  ended  his  days,  the 
place  was  wild  and  lonely  as  any  misanthrope  could  wish — foxes, 
bears  and  squirreU,  dec,  were  his  only  companions  for  many  a 
long  year  ;  he  stated  while  living,  that  great  ufHictions  was  what 
first  led  him  to  seek  his  secluded  and  solitary  abode — he  lived  in 
a  log  hut  of  the  rudest  architecture,  having  neither  door  nor  win- 
dow, if  we  except  a  hole  through  which  he  made  his  exit  and  en- 
trance— the  furniture  of  his  abode  was  as  rude  as  could  be  well 
conceived,  consisting  of  n  few  cooking  utensilsi,  a  block  of  wood 
for  his  chair,  a  hollow  log  his  only  bed,  his  clothes  such,  probably, 
asRo^jflgon  Crusoe  wore  in  the  days  of  yore,  his  employment  the 
cul'ivation  of  iN<My  rods  of  ground,  on  which  he  raised  corn,  po> 
tatoes,  and  other  vcgef^^es,  enough  to  support  himself  and  domes* 
tics,  consisting  of  pigs,  poultry,  and  latterly  a  cow  and  her  pro. 
geny.  For  a  few  years  past^e  felt  much  annoyed  at  the  inroads 
mankind  made  in  the  woods,  which  until  then  secluded  him  from 
the  rest  of  the  world,  having  for  such  a  length  of  time  considered 
himself  lord  of  all  he  surveyed  ;  he  felt  quite  uncomfortable  at  haV' 
ing  neighbors  within  view  of  his  hut,  when  for  many  a  long  year 
the  nearest  human  habitation  was  many  miles  oflf.  He  lived  a 
harmless  and  inoflfensive  life.  He  retained  his  faculties  to  the  last 
and  died  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.  He  was  removed 
in  his  last  illness  to  one  of  his  neighbor's  houses." 


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34 


LiPi  or  ^ORN  0.  inArvoRD,  die. 
CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 


I  r^*. 
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Although  the  deceased  for  many  years  profered  the  life  of  a  Re. 
clusc,  to  that  of  mingling  with  human  society,  and  dwelt  alone  in  a 
solitary  cabin,  yet  even  there,  how  much  more  contented  and  happy 
may  he  have  been  than  ho  who  would  prefer  the  gaudy  palace,  ns  well 
as  the  society  of  the  gay  and  opulent !  in  his  retirement,  with  no 
other  companion  than  that  precious  volume  he  no  doubt  not  only 
spent  the  last  years  of  his  life,  profitably,  but  with  a  hopeful  chpor« 
fulness — his  death  bed  (however  small  may  have  been  his  earthly 
possessions)  may  yet  have  been  full  of  triiiin[)li ! — to  him  ileatli 
could  not  have  come    in  a  tnuinent  of  surprise,  and    terrify  him 
with  the  immediate  prospcr-t  of  eternity  I  ho  no  dou!)t  was  perfect- 
ly sensible  at  that  important  moinent,  that  he  was  only  cycliang- 
ing  his  frail  tenement  of  clay,  for  a  permanent  and  jjlorin.n  nbodo 
in   his   Father's  kingdom! — In  tliis  worlil  of  woe,  ha|)[)ine.'S    ap. 
pears  to  bo  nought  after  l)y  almost  every  one,  by  the  cild  and  the 
young,  by  the  rich  and  the  poor;  and  yet,  comparatively spcaUina. 
but  few  <»btnin  it — this  being  tho   case,  does  no^hJt"<pr.-.-itrr>u  n.iV- 
urally  arise,  which  is  tho  proper  com       '  'pursue?  and  may  we 
not  answer,  "  love  tho  Lord  Ihy  God  >;ah  all  your  heart,  and  lead 
a  virtuous  life  !"  V 

Happiness  does  not   consist,  (as  many  have  supposed)   in    tho 
possession  of  riches — to  enjoy  pure  happiness   it  is  not  by   any 
meons  necessary  for  one  to  enjoy  the  '•  good  things  of  life"  to 
over  abundance — many  a  poor  subject  is  happier  than  his  king ; 
and  like  the  pious  Shajford,  many  a  Hermit  may  live  in  a  retired 
vale,  and  his  secluded  and  humble  dwelling  almost  unknown  to 
man,  yet  happiness  may  ever  reign  within.     Whether  rich  or  poor, 
or  whether  we  live  a  secluded  life  or  not,  if  we  wish  to  be  happy, 
our  thoughts  must  be  pure,  our  desires  rational,  and  our  sentiments 
virtuous — it  cannot  bs  purchased  by  the  puerile  toys  of  this  world; 
to  possess  it  in  its  purity  we  must  lead  a  life  in  accordance  with 
the  Bible ;  if  we  will  do  this,  our  felicity  will  be  great ;  yes,  then, 
and  not  till  then,  shall  we  obtain  the  long  searched  for  treasure ! 


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>:^  ,  /  ,^^^'^''«-'  ■ 


*Ui^'^^  ^/rf^^t- 


^    NARRATIVE 


OF  THE  CAPTIVITY  AND  SUFFERINGS 


OF 


Mr, 


ii 


W' 


I'-. 


JUiss    ELLEI^    8IIAFFORD, 


THE  ONLY  DAUGHTER  OF 


JOHN  C.   SHAFFOUD— THE  DUTCH    HERMIT, 


Who  when  but  15  years  of  age,  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  off  far  into  the 
wilderness  by  ihe  savages,  and  from  whom 
she  in  three  months  received  such  cruel 
and  beastly  treatment,  as  to  cause  her  death 
in  five  days  after  she  was  redeemed  by  her 
father. 


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